Inflation device



Mardi 1, 1966 A. J. NELSON Erm. 3,237,806

INFLATION DEVICE Filed Jan. .'51, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A l all 9) fs) 9o se so es 'zo 5w/sama l/ Z c Q *INVENTORS ""1 d m ,a mm

BY Fig" 3 W/ March 1 1966 A. J. NELSON ETAL 3,237,806

INFLATION DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 31

i90 IBG 2 United States Patent O 3,237,806 INFLATION DEVICE Andrew J. Nelson, Stratford, and John Butka, Trumbull, Conn., assignors to Butkin Tool and Manufacturing Corporation, Milford, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Filed Jan. 31, 1963, Ser. No. 255,298 3 Claims. (Cl. 222-5) This invention relates to inflation devices, and more particularly to such a device which is automatically actuated by water pressure.

A number of devices have been proposed for automatically inllating life jackets and similar life-saving and protecting equipment, such as life rafts. Several of these devices make use of gas bottled under high pressure which is released into the flotation device. However, the prior art devices have a number of serious defects. One such device, for example, releases the gas by the action of a iloat contained within a chamber which becomes filled with water upon immersion. One diiliculty with a device of this type is that the iloat is normally movable along a single line of direction. Accordingly, when maintained in certain positions, the device is unworkable. Furthermore, a oat-operated device must be relatively large to be effective and Vthe device therefore becomes more bulky than would be desirable. Also, the mechanical linkages required render the float-operated type device both expensive and subject to mechanical defects. A further disadvantage of this type device is that it may be accidentally tripped if jostled sufficiently. Furthermore, none of this type of device which are known are provided with manual auxiliary positive operating means.

Other alternatives have also been suggested for overcoming the problem of automatically inating life jackets and life rafts. For example, it has been suggested that an electrical circuit be employed, the circuit being closed by the action of water leaking into the unit. It will be readily apparent that a major disadvantage of this type unit is that some source of electrical power must be `provided and the power source will become weak and ineffective over a period of time.

It is, therefore, a primary object of this invention to provide an improved life-saving device. Other objects are to provide such a device which will automatically iniiate flotation equipment; which is compact and unobtrusive; which is mechanically reliable, and which is manually actuatable without immersion.

The manner in which the foregoing objects are attained will be more apparent from the following description, the appended claims, and the gures of the attached sheets of drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partially cut away, of apparatus embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a section taken substantially along the line 2 2 of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a sectional taken substantially along the line 3 3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation of an alternative embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the apparatus of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 6 6. of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 7-7 of FIG. 5, and

FIG. 8 isa plan view of the latch assembly, as seen substantially along line 8 8, FIG. 7.

The objects of this invention are achieved by means of a spring-operated puncturing device which is adapted to puncture a pressurized gas container. The puncturing device is retained by a releasable latch mechanism. The latch in turn is tripped by means of a pressure-operated diaphragm.

3,237,806 Patented Mar. l, 1966 ice FIGS. l-3 illustrate a portion of an inflatable life jacket 10 of standard design. The life jacket may be constructed of rubberized fabric and includes a metallic nipple 12. Nipple l2 is externally threaded with the exception of a llat portion 14. A transverse hole 16 extends from the inner surface to the outer surface of nipple 12. The inator of this invention comprises a body 18 which may be constructed Aof a molded plastic. A hole is provided in the plastic body which has a flat portion which mates with the liat portion 14 of nipple 12. When so mated, the transverse hole 16 is pointed downwardly into the body of the iniator, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The inator is then secured to the life jacket by means of a nut 20 which is screwed over the nipple 12 of life jacket 10. The main portion of lbody 18 includes a substantially L-shaped recess 22. There is further provided in body 18 a vertically extending well 24 of suitable diameter to receive a standard CO2 cartridge 26. Well 24 and recess 22 communicate with one another by a vertical tapped hole into which the neck 28 of cartridge 26 is screwed. A plastic O-ring 3i) serves to seal the opening to prevent the loss of gas. The neck 28 of the CO2 cartridge 26 is provided with a thin metallic seal 32. Directly below neck 28 of bottle 26 there is positioned a U- shaped pivot support member 34. Pivot support member 34 is secured to the body 18 by means of a yscrew 36 which extends into body 18 through an extension on mem-ber 34, which is here cut away. A pivot pin 38 extends horizontally between the two upright arms of pivot support member 34. Mounted on pivot pin 38 is a lever 40. The shorter end of lever 40 is provided with a sharpened tip 42 for puncturing the seal 32 of CO2 cartridge 26. Tip 42 is designed to cut a V-shaped hole in seal 32 which prevents icing up o-f the hole during discharge. The longer end of lever 40 terminates in a substantially U- shaped anvil 44 which includes a horizontal rim 46 about its lower portion. Positioned in the lower part of body 18 and aligned directly below the vertical portion of the L-shaped recess 22 there is provided a ange 48. Flange 48 is drilled to provide a vertically extending bore 50 extending into recess 22. A narrow shoulder 52 is provided at the juncture of bore 50 with recess 22 and the lower inner portion of bore 50 is threaded to receive a threaded bushing 54. A reset plunger, indicated generally at 56, extends into recess 22. Plunger 56 is so shaped as to have thereon a lower shoulder 58, an upper shoulder 60, and at its upper end, a cylindrical head 62. The upper and lower shoulders of plunger 56 are separated by a section 57 of reduced diameter. Further, the length of the lower part of plunger 56 is partially traversed by a slot 59. A washer 64 is positioned within threaded bushing 54 and hears against the lower shoulder 58. A washer 66 is positioned within bore Sil and bears against upper shoulder 60. Between washers 64 and 66 there is a coil spring 68 which is retained under continuous compression. Head 62 is contained within anvil 44 and is positioned directly above its rim 46. Directly above head 62 there is provided a cylindrical hammer 70. Hammer 70 is in the form of a hollow piston, closed at its lower end, and is fitted over a vertical guide pin 72. The upper end of guide pin 72 is attened to form a head 74 which abuts against the end of a lbore '76. Bore 76 communicates with the transverse hole 16 in nipple 12. The upper end of guide pin 72 is slotted so as to allow the passage of gas therethrough in a manner to be hereinafter described. A relatively heavy coil spring 77 is coiled in the opening betwen guide pin 72 and the inner wall of hammer 70. The upper end of coil spring 77 rests against the head 74 of guide pin 72 and its lower end rests against the inner lower surface of hammer 70. Between hammer 70 and anvil 44 there is positioned a latch and trigger mechanism indicated generally at 78. Assembly 78 includes a base plate 80 and an upper plate 82. Each of plates 80 and 82 includes a hole aligned with, and of a size large enough to receive, hammer 78.

The hole 84 in upper plate 82 will be readily seen in FIG. 3. The details of latch and trigger assembly 78 will also be more readily understood by reference to FIG. 3. A latch plate 86 of generally rectangular outline is slidably positioned between base plate 80 and upper plate 82. The end 88 of latch plate 86 is tapered and fits beneath hammer 70 to retain it in its raised position. Pins 90 extend between base plate 86 and upper plate 82 alongside latch plate 86 so as to guide its longitudinal movement. A spring 92 resiliently urges latch plate 86 toward hammer 70. One edge of latch plate 86 is provided with a notch 94. Notch 94 is engaged iby hook 96 at the end of a trigger 98. Trigger 98 comprises an elongated bar which is pivoted about pivot 100. Hook 96 is held in the notch 94 by means of a spring 102 which ybears against the opposite end of trigger 98. Spring 102 is retained between base plate 80 and upper plate 82 and is coiled around two spring supports 104, 106.

One flat side of the substantially cylindrical body 18 is open and is provided with an encircling rim 108 having 'an internal shoulder 110. The opening defined by rim 108 is closed by a disc 112 which has an annular flange 114. A resilient O-ring 116 is positioned between shoulder 110 and flange 114. The central portion of disc 112 includes a raised hub 118. Hub 118 is centrally drilled and tapped. A capsule assembly is then screwed into the tapped central hole in hub 118. The capsule assembly comprises a hollow, externally threaded stem 120 and thin, flexible disc diaphragms 122, 124 which are welded together around their circumferences. An O-ring 126 further seals the opening around stem 120. Centrally located on diaphragm 124 there is provided a disc-shaped bearing plate 128. The function of bearing plate 128 is to actuate the mechanism while preventing puncturing or wear of the thin diaphragm 124. The opening delined by rim 108 in the -side of the body 18 is closed by means of a cap 130 secured by means of screws 132 and provided on its front surface with passages 134.

The operation of this invention will now be explained by assuming it to be placed in position on a life jacket with the parts in the respective positions illustrated in FIGS. 1-3. It is to be noted that hammer 70 is in the raised position, thereby compressing spring 77. Hammer 70 is retained in this position by the tapered end 88 of latch plate 86 which extends thereunder. The tip 42 of lever 40 rests near seal 32 ot' the CO2 cartridge 26.

Let it now =be assumed that the life jacket and inflator are dropped into a body of water and begin to sink. Water immediately passes into passages 134 to fill the void between cap 130 and disc 112. Water and entrapped air are forced through stem 120 into the space between diaphragms 122 and 124. As the water pressure increases, the diaphragms begin to move apart and bearing plate 128 is forced inwardly. As will be noted from FIG. 3, the inward motion of bearing plate 128 depresses trigger 98 which lpivots about pivot 100. The pivot movement disengages hook 96 from notch 94. This action may be set to occur at anypressure, but a useful pressure has been found to be the equivalent of two feet of water. With the restraining influence of hook 96 removed, coil spring 77 forces hammer 70 downward. Hammer 70 overrides the tapered end 88 of latch plate 86, pushing it aside, and passes through the holes 84 in the latch and trigger assembly 7 8. Hammer 7 0 plunges downward until it strikes anvil 44, causing lever 40 to rotate about pivot pin 38 and forcibly puncturing seal 32 by tip 42. With the rupture of seal 32, pressurized carbon dioxide gas expends `from cylinder 26 into L-shaped recess 22 in body 18. The entire recess is rapidly filled with gas and the gas passes upward through slot 75 in guide pin 72 and from there passes through transverse passage 16 into nipple 12. The rapidly expanding gas fills the life jacket and causes it to return ot the surface.

When it is desired to reuse the inflator and prepare the life jacket for another emergency, the mechanism is first rearmed and then the expended cylinder 26 is replaced. To rearm the mechanism, reset plunger 56 is depressed, forcing hammer 70 upward beyond the latch mechanism. As the lower edge of hammer 70 rises above the latch assembly, latch plate 86 is urged into position directly under the edge of the Vhammer by spring 92. The reset plunger may then be released and it is returned to its downward position by spring 68. At this point the actuating mechanism is once again set for operation. It has been discovered that a vent from the atmosphere to the inside of body 18 is useful to ease removal of cartridge' 26. Accordingly slot 59 on the lower part of plunger 56 has been provided. As the plunger is depressed, this slot forms a passage into body 18.

One advantage of the apparatus of this invention is that it is easily adapted for manual operation. T o this end a lanyard may be attached to hole 57 in reset plunger 56. When it is desired to manually actuate the mechanism, the lanyard may be jerked downward, thereby depressing head 62 of the reset plunger and forcing anvil 44 downward. Tip 42 punctures seal 32 as previously described.

In FIGS. 4-8 there is illustrated an alternative embodiment of this invention. In this device, certain of the illustrated components are similar to components shown in FIGS. 1-3. In each such instance identification numerals are the same.

The metallic body 136 contains a main cavity 138 and includes a cylindrical lbore 140 which is arranged to encircle the nip-ple 12 of l-i'fe jacket 10. A flat portion 14 meshes with a corresponding flat side of nipple 12 so as to position a passageway 142 in alignment with a transverse hole 16 in nipple 12. Passageway 142 not only communicates with main cavity 138, but also supports the upper end -of a guide pin 144 which includes a slot 145. A washer 146 encircles guide pin 144 where it emerges from passageway 142 at the juncture with main cavity 138. Seated against washer 146 is the upper end of a spring 148 which encircles the guide pin. The lower end of spring 148 lies within a vertically movable cupshaped piston 150 which is provided on its lower end with a cartridge-piercing pin 152. Directly beneath pin 152 is a passageway 154 connecting with a threaded opening 156. The neck of a CO2 cartridge 26 is screwed into threaded opening 156 against a resilient O-ring 158. Parallel to the axis passing through passageway 142 and yguide pin 144 there is provided an arming pin 160. Arming pin 160 includes anupper head 162 which is vertically slida'ble in the cylindrical bore 164 of a bushing 166 threaded into a corresponding opening 168 in body 136. The threaded connection |between bushing 166 and lbody 136 is further sealed by a resilient O-ring 170. rIlhe lower end 172 of arming pin 160 extends through a corresponding bore 174 in body 136. A slot 173 serves the same Afunction as 4slot 59 in the embodiment of FIG. 2.

Intermediate the ends of arming pin 160 there is located a cocking flange 176 having a taper 177 on its lower end. A cocking fork 178 is substantially cylindrical in form and encircles the cocking ange 176. Extending from the main 'body of cocking Ifork 178 are prongs 180, 182 which are arranged to encircle piston 160 -beneath its upper ange 184. A coil spring 186 encircles arming pin 160 and is positioned between a washer 187 resting against the lowe-r end of bushing 166 and the cocking fork 178.

The latching mechanism comprises a base plate 188, an upper plate 190, and a latch plate 192. This assembly is shown in more detail in FIG. 8. Upper plate and base plate 188 together define a -hole 194 which is concentric with piston 150 and a hole 196 which is concentric `with arming pin 160. Base plate 188 and upper plate 190 are secured to one another `by means of corner rivets 198. Latch plate 192, however, is slidably retained between the vupper and base plates on a latch pivot pin 200. I atch plate 192 contains holes which correspond with those in the upper and base plates. However, because latch plate 192 is pivotally connected relative to the upper plate and the base plate, it may -be so positioned that its corresponding holes, which may be denominated 202 and 204, are slightly out of alignment with holes 194, 196. When such misalignment is present, the position of latch plate 192 is such t-hat an actuating edge 206 extends from beneath the upper base plate and the lower base plate. A biasing spring 208 tends to keep the latch plate 192 in the position illustrated in FIG. 8; in other words, with its holes 4.slightly out of alignment with the corresponding holes in the base plate and upper plate and with its actuating edge 206 slightly protruding -from between the plates. With latch plate 192 in the illustrated position, the piston 150, which would normally be forced through the openings in the upper plate 190 and the Ibase plate 188 lby the action of spring 148, is held in the lifted position by the slight misalignment of the latch plate and upper plate holes.

Adjacent the extended actuating edge 206 of latch plate 192, there is provided an actuating lever spring 210. Lever spring 210 comprises an elongated tempered spring strip which is bent at its lower end 212 as shown in FIG. 6, and secured to the main metallic body 136. The upper end 214 of lever spring 210 bears against a `bearing plate 128 of a capsule assembly which is identical to that illustrated in FlG. 3. Because of the similarity in construction, the capsule assembly will not be described in detail at this point. However, similar parts carry similar numbers to those illustrated in FIG. 3.

The operation of the device is as Ifollows:

As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the apparatus is shown in the cocked position with the pin 152 raised above the sealed neck of the CO2 cartridge 26. As water pressure within cap 130 increases, the diaphragm expands in the same fashion as previously described. This forces bearing plate 128 against upper end 214 of lever spring 210, displacing it to the left as illustrated in FIG. 6. As will -be seen from FIG. 8, the pressure applied lby lever spring 210 against actuating edge 206 will cause a pivotal displacement of latch plate 192 which will cause the holes 202, 204 to become aligned with the holes 194, 196.

The alignment of holes 194 and 202 allows piston 150 to be released, whereupon spring 148 drives the piston downward, puncturing the seal of the CO2 bott-le 26. The released carbon dioxide gas ills cavity 138 and ascends through the slot 145 in the top of guide pin 144. The gas passes into transverse passageway 142, through hole 16, into nipple 12, and into the life preserver 10, causing it to inflate.

In order to manually actuate the intlator of this embodiment, the lower end 172 of arming pin 160 is merely jerked downward as by means of a lanyard passed through khole 216. This causes the tapered edge 177 of cooking ange 176 to be brought downward into sharp engagement with hole 204 of the latch plate. As will be apparent from FIG. 8, this centers hole 204 with hole 196 and has the same effect as the inward movement of lever spring 210. In other words, latch plate 192 is caused to pivot about pivot pin 200, thus releasing piston 150.

After the inator of this invention has been used, the empty gas -cartridge 26 may be removed. The device is then reset by manually forcing arming pin 160 upward by pressure on lower end 172. Flange 176 -forces arming fork 178 upward against the tension of spring 186 and prongs 180, 182 lift piston 150 until its lower edge is out of engagement with hole 202 in latch plate 192. When this position is reached, `biasing spring 208 forces latch plate 192 into its unaligned position, so that piston 150 is retained in the upper, or cocked, position. A new CO2 bottle may then lbe screwed Iinto position.

It will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that many other variations and modifications of this invention, other than the two described above, are possible without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Accordingly, this invention is not to be construed as limited by the specific embodiments set forth. This invention is limited only by the scope of the following claims.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. Submersible automatic inflation apparatus which comprises: body means deiining a cavity therein adapted to be connected in fluid How relationship with the gas inlet of a gas-inflatable device; threaded passage means communicating between said cavity and the outer surface of said body means and adapted to receive therein the neck of a gas-filled cartridge; cup-shaped cylindrical piston means within Isaid cavity positioned for movement along its longitudinal axis; compression spring means within said cavity positioned between said body and said piston means along the longitudinal axis of said piston means; slidable plate latch means within said cavity having a first position wherein at least a portion of said slidable plate is within the path of travel of said piston means to retain said piston means in a cocked position against the compression of said compression spring means and a second position wherein said slidable plate is moved out of the path of travel of said piston means to release said piston means; a lever having a first end positioned to be struck by said piston means upon its release and a second end adapted to pierce said cartridge upon its iirst end being so struck; lever pivot means intermediate said iirst and second ends and fixed relative to said body means; lirst and second exible disc members within said cavity secured to one another along their edges in substantially watertight relationship; conduit means in i'luid flow relationship between the inner space intermediate said discs and the environment surrounding said body means; means on said first disc adapted to push said slidable plate to its second position upon expansion of said inner space to release said piston means to strike said lever; and a manually operable reset rod extending through said body means and in effectively operable engagement with said piston means to raise said piston means against the compression of said compression spring means to reset said piston means and return said slidable plate latch means to its first position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said reset rod includes flange means positioned to engage and depress the first end of said lever to pierce said cartridge without releasing said piston means.

3. Submersible automatic ination apparatus which comprises: body means defining a cavity therein adapted to be connected in iluid ow relationship with the gas inlet of a gas-inatable device; threaded passage means communicating between said cavity and the outer surface of said body means and adapted to receive therein the neck of a gas-filled cartridge; cup-shaped cylindrical piston means within said cavity positioned for movement along its longitudinal axis; compression spring means within said cavity positioned between said body and said piston means along the longitudinal axis of said piston means; a base plate within said cavity defining a first opening positioned to admit said piston means therethrough; a latch plate defining a second opening therein and slidably positioned relative to said base plate; pivot means interconnecting said latch plate and said base plate; biasing means positioned to pivot said latch plate about said pivot means to a first position wherein said iirst and second openings are unaligned; first and second exible disc members within said cavity secured to one another along their edges in substantially watertight relationship; conduit means in fluid flow relationship between the inner space intermediate said discs and the environment surrounding said body means; actuating means on said rst disc adapted to pivot said latch plate against said biasing means upon expansion of `said inner space to align said openings and release said piston means therethrough; puncturing means iixedly secured to said piston means to puncture said gas-filled cartridge upon release of ysaid piston means; and a manually operable reset rod extending through said body means and in effectively op- 10 References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Amdursky 251-73 X Mapes 222-5 Mapes 222-5 Grant 222-5 Stoner 222-5 Henry 222-5 Hebenstreit 22-5 X LOUIS J. DEMBO, Primary Examiner.

RAPHAEL M. LUPO, EVERETT W. KIRBY,

Examiners. 

1. SUBMERSIBLE AUTOMATIC INFLATION APPARATUS WHICH COMPRISES: BODY MEANS DEFINING A CAVITY THEREIN ADAPTED TO BE CONNECTED IN FLUID FLOW RELATIONSHIP WITH THE GAS INLET OF A GAS-INFLATABLE DEVICE; THREADED PASSAGE MEANS COMMUNICATING BETWEEN SAID CAVITY AND THE OUTER SURFACE OF SAID BODY MEANS AND ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THEREIN THE NECK OF A GAS-FILLED CARTRIDGE; CUP-SHAPED CYLINDRICAL PISTON MEANS WITHIN SAID CAVITY POSITIONED FOR MOVEMENT ALONG ITS LONGITUDINAL AXIS; COMPRESSION SPRING MEANS WITHIN SAID CAVITY POSITIONED BETWEEN SAID BODY AND SAID PISTON MEANS ALONG THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID PISTON MEANS; SLIDABLE PLATE LATCH MEANS WITHIN SAID CAVITY HAVING A FIRST POSITION WHEREIN AT LEAST A PORTION OF SAID SLIDABLE PLATE IS WITHIN THE PATH OF TRAVEL OF SAID PISTON MEANS TO RETAIN SAID PISTON MEANS IN A COCKED POSITION AGAINST THE COMPRESSION OF SAID COMPRESSION SPRING MEANS AND A SECOND POSITION WHEREIN SAID SLIDABLE PLATE IS MOVED OUT OF THE PATH OF TRAVEL OF SAID PISTON MEANS TO RELEASE SAID PISTON MEANS; A LEVER HAVING A FIRST END POSITIONED TO BE STRUCK BY SAID PISTON MEANS UPON ITS RELEASE AND A SECOND END ADAPTED TO PIERCE SAID CARTRIDE UPON ITS FIRST END BEING SO STRUCK; LEVER PIVOT MEANS INTERMEDIATE SAID FIRST AND SECOND ENDS AND FIXED RELATIVE TO SAID BODY MEANS; FIRST AND SECOND FLEXIBLE DISC MEMBERS WITHIN SAID CAVITY SECURED TO ONE ANOTHER ALONG THEIR EDGES IN SUB- 